§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table giving the value of: (a) family allowances child benefit, (b) child addition to unemployment and sickness benefit, (c) child additions to national assistance supplementary benefit, (d) child additions to invalidity, widows, and retirement pensions benefit, in 1948 and 1978; 259W and if he will publish the amount by which present allowances would have to be increased to be worth the same in real terms as in 1948.
Benefit 1948 cash value December 1977 real value January 1978 cash value Difference £ £ £ £ Family allowances/child benefit First child Nil Nil 1.00 1.00 Younger children 0.25 1.51 1.50 -0.01 Child addition to unemployment and sickness benefit First child 0.375 2.26 3.50 1.24 Younger children Nil Nil 3.00 3.00 Child additions to national assistance/supplementary benefit Lowest age rate 0.375 2.26 4.10 1.84 Age 15 rate 0.525 3.17 7.40 4.23 Child addition to invalidity, widow's and retirement pensions First child 0.375 2.26 7.40 5.14 Younger children Nil Nil 6.90 6.90
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the light of the problems caused to lone mothers, who intend to have their babies adopted, by the rule which makes eligibility to dependency allowances conditional on a claim for child benefit, if he will take steps to ensure in such cases claims for child benefit are expedited so that the extra benefits arrive before the baby leaves.
§ Mr. OrmeEvery effort is made to encourage prompt claims. A claimant to maternity benefit is invited to indicate on the claim form if she also wishes to claim child benefit, in order that a leaflet and claim for for child benefit can be sent to her.
The majority of claims for child benefit takes less than seven working days from the date of receipt at the Child Benefit Centre to the date the letter awarding benefit is sent to the claimant. If my hon. Friend is interested in a particular case, I shall be glad to see whether I can help him further.